Our Left coast continues to punish companies at will. Amazon is seen as a nice, ripe target as one of the largest corporate entities on Earth. California, being the largest Left wing dominated US State, will always look to grab more and more billions for their own social policies.
California’s labor regulator announced a nearly $6 million fine against Amazon on Tuesday for violating the state’s Warehouse Quotas law. The California Labor Commissioner’s Office conducted an investigation at two Amazon facilities in Moreno Valley and Redlands, east of Los Angeles, uncovering 59,017 violations of the law. The Warehouse Quotas law, which went into effect in 2022, requires employers to disclose productivity quotas to employees and government agencies, including any disciplinary measures for not meeting these quotas. It also prohibits employers from imposing quotas that prevent workers from taking state-mandated meal and rest breaks or using the bathroom.
🔵 AMAZON FINED $5.9 MILLION OVER WAREHOUSE WORKER QUOTAS IN CALIFORNIAhttps://t.co/mn1yyfCkP0 has been fined $5.9 million by a California labor regulator who says the online retail giant failed to properly inform workers of productivity quotas at two warehouses, including one… pic.twitter.com/V0V1FSyYRy
— PiQ (@PiQSuite) June 18, 2024
Amazon was found to have failed in providing written notice of quotas, as required by the law. Instead, Amazon argued that it uses a “peer-to-peer evaluation system” rather than fixed quotas. Labor Commissioner Lilia Garcia-Brower stated that Amazon’s peer-to-peer system is exactly the type of practice the Warehouse Quotas law aims to address, indicating that it still effectively imposes quotas without proper disclosure.
California has fined Amazon $5.9 million for allegedly jeopardizing warehouse worker safety. Learn more about the controversy and Amazon’s response.#Amazon #WarehouseWorkers #WorkerSafety #CaliforniaLaw #QuotaLaw #LaborRights pic.twitter.com/GXUrRkMmgk
— Fatafat News (@FatafatNews2020) June 19, 2024
Amazon has faced increasing scrutiny over its treatment of warehouse and delivery employees, particularly concerning the pace of work, which critics argue puts workers at greater risk of injury. In 2022, Washington safety regulators fined Amazon for “willfully” violating workplace safety laws, noting that the fast pace of work increased the risk of musculoskeletal disorders and other injuries from repetitive tasks. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has also cited Amazon multiple times for safety violations, which the company has vowed to appeal.
In response to regulatory actions, Amazon has claimed it does not use fixed quotas but rather relies on “performance expectations” that take into account various indicators, including team performance at a site. Amazon has also disputed allegations regarding inadequate breaks for employees, asserting that its safety record is improving. The company announced plans to invest over $750 million in safety initiatives this year, and it stated that its injury rates have improved.
Amazon fined $5.9 million for allegedly violating California’s warehouse quota law https://t.co/T2IYU9TuHN
— ABC7 Eyewitness News (@ABC7) June 19, 2024
Maureen Lynch Vogel, an Amazon spokesperson, stated that the company disagrees with the allegations and has filed an appeal. Vogel emphasized that Amazon evaluates individual performance over an extended period and in relation to team performance, encouraging employees to review their performance and discuss any concerns with their managers.
Other states, including New York, Washington, and Minnesota, have enacted similar regulations to protect warehouse workers, and a federal bill addressing this issue was introduced by Senator Ed Markey, D-Mass, last month. Despite these regulatory challenges, Amazon continues to defend its workplace practices and safety record while appealing against the citations and fines imposed by various labor and safety agencies.
Key Points:
i. California’s labor regulator fined Amazon nearly $6 million for violating the state’s Warehouse Quotas law.
ii. The fines stemmed from investigations at Amazon facilities in Moreno Valley and Redlands, uncovering 59,017 violations.
iii. The Warehouse Quotas law, effective since 2022, requires employers to disclose productivity quotas and prohibits unsafe work conditions tied to these quotas.
iv. Amazon was found to have failed in providing written notice of quotas, instead using a “peer-to-peer evaluation system” which the law aimed to prevent.
v. Amazon disputes the allegations, claiming they use “performance expectations” rather than fixed quotas and have filed an appeal against the fines.
RM Tomi – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News
